What is Classification?

Classification is a term used frequently when referring to Paralympic Sport. It forms the structure for all  Paralympic competition. Classification groups athletes with similar levels of functional ability into classes for equivalent competition.

Athletes who belong to six different disability groups can compete in Paralympic sports: amputees, cerebral palsy, vision impairment, spinal cord injuries, intellectual disability and a group which includes those that do not fit into the aforementioned groups (“les Autres”). These athletes have different impairments in the way their body structures and functions work, that leads to a competitive disadvantage in non-Paralympic sport.

Classification in Paralympic sport exists to support as fair competition as possible, amongst athletes with different impairments. It is put in place in Paralympic sport to ensure that winning is determined by athletic skill, fitness, power, endurance, tactical ability and mental focus, the same factors that account for success in sport for athletes who are able-bodied. The outcomes of Paralympic competition become based on athletic performance rather than on differences that exist in athletes disabilities.

This same principle exists in other sporting classification systems; such as age group competitions for juniors, male and female competitions, or weight divisions (or classes) in boxing and weightlifting. In these examples, athletes are grouped together by similar structures such as age, gender or weight to allow for as fair compeition as possible.

Initial systems for classification were based on medical results and testing. However, as each Paralympic sport requires different athletic skills for performance, classification systems have now evolved to being based significantly on the impact of the athlete’s impairment on their ability to compete in their respective sport. This means that each sport has a unique system for classification. 

An efficient classification system must:

• Enable fair and equitable competition
• Give each athlete with a disability an equal opportunity to compete
• Be sport specific
• Only measure functional limitations caused by the disability
• Be as simple as possible so that it can be used in a consistent way

An athlete’s natural talent, level of training or gender will not affect their classification.

View Paralympic Education Program Classification Video online

Sport Specific Classification Systems

All Paralympic sports have individual classification systems that have identified the key skill areas that are critical to performance of their particular sport. Classification is based on specific functional abilities as related to individual sporting performance. This means that athletes that compete in more than one sport will receive a different classification for each sport.

Please refer to the Sport Profiles for more detailed explanation of the classification systems for each Paralympic sport.

Athlete Classification Process 

To determine an athlete’s classification for a sport, a group of officials, known as classifiers, assess the athlete to determine how their impairment influences their sport ability, regardless of their level of training or development.  The following components generally form the basis of the evaluation process.

Medical, Visual or Cognitive testing - An examination to ascertain the extent that the athlete’s impairment has on their potential function.

Demonstration of sport skills - The athlete demonstrates techniques used in their sport. For example athlete demonstrates dribbling and shooting skills for Wheelchair basketball; or stroke technique in Swimming.

Visual review during competition - The analysis of the athlete during competition.

Minimal Disability Criteria

Each Paralympic sport has a set of minimal disability criteria that are specific to their sport. These criteria are generally based on the functional skills that are required to compete in the non-Paralympic equivalent of their sport. Where an athlete demonstrates sufficient and measurable functional limitations compared to athletes without disabilities, they are generally eligible for Paralympic sport. For example, the athlete who does not have a hand on one of their arms, may be said to have a greater disadvantage in sports such as Swimming, Cycling or Alpine skiing, than in sports such as Athletics or Shooting. Athletes who do not meet the minimal criteria for a sport are not able to compete in any level of Paralympic competition.

Get classified

The fact sheets below contain more detailed information about classification